Lewis b



(No Model.)

L. B. STAGKHOUSE.

Y BIB. No.593,618. PatentedN-0v15,1897.

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NTTED STATES PATENT muon.

LEVIS B. STACKHOUSE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HENRY STRUNTZ', OF SAME PLACE.

BIB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,618, dated November` 16, 1897. Application filed July 9, 1896. Serial No. 598 ,596. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Lnwis B. STACKHoUsn, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented oertain Improvements in Bibs for Infants and Children, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to so construct a bib for infants or children as to prevent the [o soiling or wetting of the front of the' dress by liquid dropping from the mouth or from a spoon in feeding, a further object of the invention being to so construct the bib that the same can be readily cleansed and dried. These objects I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the'accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of a childs bib constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of bib embodying the invention, and Fig. 4 is a sectional View of the same.

When children are teething or have considerable discharge of liquid from the mouth from any other cause, the ordinary bib is ineifective, as it soon becomes soaked, and

thereby, unless frequently changed, increases the evil it is intended to prevent-that is to say, the wetting of the front of the childs dress and the ills likely to result therefrom. Even the paddedbibs sometimes employed soonbecome sodden, and in this condition are worse than the plain or unpadded bibs.

In carrying out my invention I provide a bib which will absorb `and retain a large amount of liquid, but will prevent the' same from wetting or even causing dampness in the front of the dress, the bib, however, being readily cleansed and dried when necessary.

The bib shown in Fig. 1 comprises a back portion A and a front portion B, both provided, by preference, with straps D for passing around the neck of the child and supporting the bib in its proper position on the breast, the two straps being'connected by means of a button d or other equivalent fastening. The use of these straps, however, is not absolutely necessary to the proper carrying out of my invention, as any available means of supporting the bibupon the person of the child may be adopted.

The front and back portions of the bib are disconnected at the top, so that they form a pocket for the reception of a sheet F, of oilcloth, rubber, waterproof paper, or equivalent material impervious fo moisture, this sheet of impervious material lying against the back A of the bib. Between the waterproof sheet F and the front of the bib is a pad G, of sponge, absorbent cotton, or equivalent absorbent material, both the waterproof sheet and the pad being retained in the pocket of the bib by buttoning or otherwise securing together the front and rear portions of said bib at the top of the pocket, as shown, for instance, at b. y

A bib of this character will catch and retain liquid flowing from the mouth of the child or liquid dropping from a spoon whereby the child is fed, the absorbent character of the pad G enabling the bib to be used for a considerable time before said pad becomes saturated, and the waterproof sheet F effectually preventing the passage of liquid through the back of the bib and onto the dress of the child.

The waterproof sheet and the absorbent pad can be readily removed from the pocket of the bib for being cleansed and dried, and when they are so removed the bib can be washed and dried with the same facility as an ordinary single or unpadded bib, it being understood, of course, that both the front and back of the pad are of textile material which will permit of such washing and drying. My invention, however, is not specifically limited to a bib having a textile front and rear portion forming a pocket. For instance, the rear portion of the bib may be made of waterproof cloth or other impervious material, as at A in Fig. 3, the outer portion B of the bib being secured to the back portion by buttons d or other available fastenings, so that it can be readily removed for being cleansed and dried, the pad G', of sponge or other absorbent materiaLin this case occupying the space between the front and back of the bib. In this case the front of the bib may be of lace or other open work or ornamental fabric, and in either is maintained in contact with the impervious sheet, all ot" the parts being separable from each other so as to be independently cleaned I5 and dried, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEWIS B. srAoKnoUsn.

Vitnesses:

F. E. BECHTOLD, Jos. H. KLEIN. 

